Physical Therapy Category

Clinical Decision-Making in Acute & Critical Care: What to Do, When to Do It, and When to Stop

2 CE Hours
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About the Course

Rehabilitation clinicians in acute and critical care environments are increasingly expected to make complex, time-sensitive decisions in medically fragile patients. While foundational knowledge of lines, tubes, and ICU equipment remains essential, optimal patient outcomes depend on the clinician’s ability to synthesize physiologic data, interpret risk, and determine the right intervention at the right time—or when to hold.

This course advances beyond foundational ICU education to focus on clinical decision-making, risk stratification, and real-time adaptation of care. Participants will learn how to integrate hemodynamics, lab values, pharmacologic support, respiratory status, and patient presentation into actionable mobility decisions. Through case-based discussion and applied frameworks, clinicians will refine their ability to initiate, progress, modify, or defer interventions while navigating interdisciplinary dynamics and patient complexity across the acute care continuum.

This course is based on the recorded webinar, Clinical Decision-Making in Acute & Critical Care: What to Do, When to Do It, and When to Stop created by Katelyn Whitlock in 2026.

Publication Details

Publication Date: Originally presented as a live event Jul 16th, 2026

Presenter and Course Creator

Katelyn Whitlock, PT, DPT, MSEd, CCS

Katelyn Whitlock is a faculty member in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Brenau University. She is a Board-Certified Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist and currently practices as an physical therapist primarily in the CVICU. She currently serves as the co-chair of the PT in Critical Care Clinical Practice Guidelines committee. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Emory University in May 2018, followed by the completion of Emory’s Acute Care Residency in 2019. Prior to her DPT, she obtained both her bachelors and masters degrees in Exercise Physiology from the University of Virginia. She is passionate about ICU rehabilitation and outcomes especially for complex patient populations including mechanical circulatory support and ECMO. Dr. Whitlock is actively involved in research and has presented at local and national conferences on topics including ICU physical therapy, ECMO, advanced mechanical support, and COVID-19.

Katelyn Whitlock authored the material only, and was not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Target Audience

This webinar is intended for Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants, Occupational Therapists, and Occupational Therapy Assistants. (PT, PTA, OT, COTA)

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Integrate physiologic data (hemodynamics, labs, respiratory status, and pharmacologic support) to determine patient readiness for rehabilitation interventions in acute and critical care settings.
  2. 2 Recognize early signs of physiologic instability during activity and implement appropriate modification or termination of intervention to ensure patient safety.
  3. 3 Analyze complex patient cases to justify clinical decisions related to mobility, including risk-benefit assessment and expected physiologic response.
  4. 4 Communicate clinical reasoning and mobility recommendations effectively within an interdisciplinary team to support safe and appropriate patient progression.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Use our CE Approvals tool to look up your state requirements and how can help you meet them, or log in to your member account to show approvals relevant to your licensure.

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

2 CEU hours
Eligible until Jan 2nd, 2030
CE Learning Systems, LLC is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course activity approval ID# 16140. This Distance Learning–Independent activity is offered at 0.2 CEUs, Intermediate, Service Delivery. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
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Logo: American Occupational Therapy Association

Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC)

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until May 20th, 2030
CE Learning Systems is an accredited provider by the California Board of Physical Therapy. CE Learning Systems maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
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Florida Board of Occupational Therapy (FBOT)

2 CE credit hours CE Broker logo 20-1404973
Eligible until May 20th, 2031
CE Learning Systems, LLC is approved by the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy to sponsor continuing education for Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapist Assistants. CE Learning Systems maintains responsibility for this program and its content. CE Broker Provider Number 50-315
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Michigan Board of Physical Therapy

2 CE credit hours CE Broker logo 20-1404973
Eligible until Jan 2nd, 2031
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Michigan Board of Physical Therapy (Provider # 50-315).
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New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (NJTPTE)

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 31st, 2028
This activity has been approved by the New Jersey Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for credit hours for PTs and PTAs. Approval Number
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New York State Education Department's State Board for Physical Therapy

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jul 16th, 2028
CE Learning Systems (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Physical Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants.
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New York State Education Department's State Board for Occupational Therapy (NYSED BOT)

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until May 20th, 2031
CE Learning Systems (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Occupational Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants.
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Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board - Physical Therapy (OTPTAT)

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jul 16th, 2027
This course is approved by the Ohio Physical Therapy Association for PTs and PTAs. OPTA approval number #####.
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Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until May 30th, 2028
This activity has been approved by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 2 CCUs for PTs and PTAs. APS # 2805075TX. Accreditation Period: 6/1/25-5/31/28
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Course Materials

Video
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  • Clinical Decision-Making in Acute & Critical Care: What to Do, When to Do It, and When to Stop

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  • Presentation Slides

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